As I have said many times before: it is not a big leap to go from bodybuilding... to private posing... to pornography and/or escorting.

It's extremely common in cultures (and considered no big deal) that are much less Puritanical and hypocritical than the United States. Romero is from Venezuela, and Namat is Hungarian. And don't even get me started about the bodybuilders in Brazil, Argentina, Australia or Thailand. Even in some Arab countries. Sexuality is considered a fluid currency in most cases, except Western culture where everyone is put into a box and has to be either straight or gay or bi. It's incredibly ignorant. Most Americans really need to travel more.

I agree more Americans need to travel, but letís be real: they are not performing in Venezuela and Hungary. They are in America and they well know that peddling themselves to men on gay sites like ilovemuscle is going to cost them street cred in a sport that likes to pretend that homosexuality does not exist--among judges, the fans, and among the (married?) athletes.

I would not mind hearing Steve explain his decision to pose on that site and whether or not he thinks doing so (or doing other things) impacts his career in this sport (or any other kind of career).

Muscle escorting is obviously not new and it certainly isn't disappearing anytime soon. I can recall some time ago a well built getbigger noting that he was willing to pose on cam for money, and he would even private pose nude in a room with a guy (for enough money), but he drew the line at touching because that was ďtoo gayĒ and he was straight. It is curious where people "draw the line" as it were. Some will kiss but not oral, some will oral, but not anal. Some will top but not bottom. Some will even do all of the above, as long as no one calls them "gay."

I agree more Americans need to travel, but letís be real: they are not performing in Venezuela and Hungary. They are in America and they well know that peddling themselves to men on gay sites like ilovemuscle is going to cost them street cred in a sport that likes to pretend that homosexuality does not exist--among judges, the fans, and among the (married?) athletes.

Slight correction: Manuel Romero IS performing from his residence in Venezuela. Many of the BBers who pose at livemuscleshow pose on webcam from the safety of their residences in their home countries for paid clients all over the globe. However, that doesn't prevent them from meeting well-heeled sponsors who will fly them to the US and Europe (that's another story for the OTHER thread - http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=430425.0)!

Slight correction: Manuel Romero IS performing from his residence in Venezuela. Many of the BBers who pose at livemuscleshow pose on webcam from the safety of their residences in their home countries for paid clients all over the globe. However, that doesn't prevent them from meeting well-heeled sponsors who will fly them to the US and Europe (that's another story for the OTHER thread - http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=430425.0)!

This doesn't surprise me. I'm sure its old news and has been discussed to death, but I noticed long ago that their aren't too many American competitors on sites such as MuscleHunks or the like. There has always been somewhat of a "mental censor" in the US, despite our claim to be so open minded and forward thinking, and that censor has taken its toll on American bodybuilding. The stigma alone of some that follows guys who avoid the sport or even watching it just because the competitors are oiled up and wearing speedos validates that. Meanwhile, it seems other countries embrace all aspects of the sport, even posing without the speedo. The foreign boys use their alias names, and still their faces (and bodies) are easily recognized by those familiar with the sport and they aren't not deterred from putting on the best possible show. I have been using Manuel Romero as a guide for my own training for a while, and seeing him perform on cam in all of his magical glory was awesome for me lol.

Bay's right...Bodybuilding is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from all kinds of other ventures. But you never who's privately posing or escorting or gardening or God knows what else in their private time. Technically its not even our business until it ends up on the Internet lol

The owner and operator of the MuscleHunks / LiveMuscleShow / PowerMen sites makes about $4M to $6M a year off his various muscle websites and has a grand house in South Beach. Obviously, there's a lot of $$$$$ in G4P!

You have elected to limit most of your postings to the sex forum and that is certainly your prerogative, but this is still a bodybuilding board and, yes, many of us here are interested in contests, placings, training, nutrition, etc. I often wonder about the thought processes of those who are so very drawn to bodybuilders but have zero interest in fitness or bodybuilding for themselves. There used to be a fellow here named alasdair mackenzie who famously said, "I have never really liked pictures of the bodies of older men even though I am over 60 myself now. Mind you I have never worked out in my life as my involvement in bodybuilding has been restricted to photography. I much prefer the aesthetics of a younger man." Think about that for a moment... a man in his 60s who likes to look at and photograph teenage bodybuilders but has no interest in working out himself. Any way you look at it, that is not a pretty picture.

Do your work out or train? Is your interest in bodybuilding limited to what you can rent by the hour?

You have elected to limit most of your postings to the sex forum and that is certainly your prerogative, but this is still bodybuilding board and, yes, many of us here are interested in contests, placings, training, nutrition, etc. I often wonder about the thought processes of those who are so very drawn to bodybuilders but have zero interest in fitness or bodybuilding for themselves. There used to be a fellow here named alasdair mackenzie who famously said, "I have never really liked pictures of the bodies of older men even though I am over 60 myself now. Mind you I have never worked out in my life as my involvement in bodybuilding has been restricted to photography. I much prefer the aesthetics of a younger man." Think about that for a moment... a man in his 60s who likes to look at and photograph teenage bodybuilders but has no interest in working out himself. Any way you look at it, that is not a pretty picture.

Do your work out or train? Is your interest in bodybuilding limited to what you can rent by the hour?

You consistently post photos of and make comments about gay porn stars and escorts who are not competitive bodybuilders. Many of which would not even do well on a competitive stage and frankly, have that "not so well", lipodystrophic, old gay Castro queer look. And you question why I post a picture on your precious muscle escorting thread of a guy who may not have competed recently? You can be a real piece of work.

You have elected to limit most of your postings to the sex forum and that is certainly your prerogative, but this is still bodybuilding board and, yes, many of us here are interested in contests, placings, training, nutrition, etc. I often wonder about the thought processes of those who are so very drawn to bodybuilders but have zero interest in fitness or bodybuilding for themselves. There used to be a fellow here named alasdair mackenzie who famously said, "I have never really liked pictures of the bodies of older men even though I am over 60 myself now. Mind you I have never worked out in my life as my involvement in bodybuilding has been restricted to photography. I much prefer the aesthetics of a younger man." Think about that for a moment... a man in his 60s who likes to look at and photograph teenage bodybuilders but has no interest in working out himself. Any way you look at it, that is not a pretty picture.

Do your work out or train? Is your interest in bodybuilding limited to what you can rent by the hour?

I workout less today then I have in the past, although I am getting back to it following my recent surgery. Albeit, I am restricted as to how much weight I can heft for a few more weeks, this doesn't stop me from doing cardio, which, since I decided to slim down a fair amount, isn't necessarily a bad thing.

While I used to like looking at photos of well built guys of all ages for inspiration, I am now looking at guys more my age. No matter how much I desire to look like a 20 or 30 year old bodybuilder, that isn't going to happen at this juncture. If I can still look as good as someone in great shape who is 50 or 60 years old, that is good enough for me.

I have never rented a person by the hour and I have no intention of doing so at this point in my life.

I workout less today then I have in the past, although I am getting back to it following my recent surgery. Albeit, I am restricted as to how much weight I can heft for a few more weeks, this doesn't stop me from doing cardio, which, since I decided to slim down a fair amount, isn't necessarily a bad thing.

While I used to like looking at photos of well built guys of all ages for inspiration, I am now looking at guys more my age. No matter how much I desire to look like a 20 or 30 year old bodybuilder, that isn't going to happen at this juncture. If I can still look as good as someone in great shape who is 50 or 60 years old, that is good enough for me.

I have never rented a person by the hour and I have no intention of doing so at this point in my life.

I would very much like to engage pro male bodybuilders.How does one get in contact with them?I feel very sad for the beautiful powerful men who lost their lives so needlessly. Calling them schmoes is immoral.

Ex-Olympian admits to double lifeFormer track star says she worked for high-priced escort service in Las Vegas, offers reasoning.By The Associated Press

Three-time Olympian runner Suzy Favor Hamilton has admitted leading a double life as an escort.

She apologized Thursday after a report by The Smoking Gun website said she had been working as a prostitute in Las Vegas.

The 44-year-old Favor Hamilton lives in Madison, Wis. The Smoking Gun said she has been working for the last year for an escort service.

Soon after the story appeared online, Hamilton released a series of tweets saying in part that she was "drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging time with my marriage and my life."

A middle-distance runner, Favor Hamilton competed for the U.S. at the Olympics in 1992, 1996 and 2000 but did not win a medal. She won seven U.S. national titles.

Former U.S. Olympic runner Suzy Favor Hamilton has been working for the last year as a high-priced escort, charging clients up to $600 an hour.

The story was first reported by thesmokinggun.com. A reporter for the website approached Hamilton in the lobby of a Las Vegas hotel. At first she denied it, before finally admitting she was an escort.

On her Twitter account Thursday, Hamilton took full responsibility for her actions:

"I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am to anyone I have hurt as a result of my actions and greatly appreciate the support from family and those closest to me.

"I fully intend to make amends and get back to being a good mother, wife, daughter, and friend."

She also talked about her reasons for becoming an escort:

"I was drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging ... Time with my marriage and my life. It provided an escape from a life that I was struggling in. It was a double life."

And she said she was seeking help:

"I do not expect people to understand, but the reasons for doing this made sense to me at the time and were very much related to depression.

"I have been seeking the help of a psychologist for the past few weeks and will continue to do so after I have put things together."

Hamilton is married and has a 7-year-old daughter. Her escort life was uncovered when she was outed by a client, but she told The Smoking Gun that she won't be vindictive by telling who it was.

ďHe totally broke all the rules by outing me. I donít want to be like him. Because he is scum. And I will not become scum to make myself feel good,Ē Favor Hamilton said. ďI will not do it. I would suffer rather than go that route of being vindictive.Ē

Hamilton ran in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics, failing to medal each time. She is a winner of nine NCAA running titles, specializing in the 800- and 1,500-meter events while at the University of Wisconsin.

A gay porn star is accused of blackmailing an unidentified wealthy man out of $500,000 by threatening to broadcast the lurid details of his personal life, according to federal officials.

FBI agents arrested Teofil Brank -- better known by his stage name Jarec Wentworth -- on March 4 after investigators say he tried to exact the ownership of a condo and $1-million cash from the man, who is referenced in court documents as D.B.

In a March 20 indictment, Brank, 25, was charged with one felony count of extortion by threatening to injure someoneís reputation. If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison.

Brank is scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a bail review hearing. A judge previously denied bail, deeming him a flight risk, but Brankís attorneys appealed the decision.

According to a sworn affidavit, Brank began sending D.B. text messages on Feb. 16, demanding $500,000 cash and the manís Audi sports car.

The adult performer pledged to post photos and other details of the manís trysts through his Twitter account, according to the affidavit. Prosecutors say Brank published a damaging comment online about the unidentified man, then removed it.

ďIím just going to bite hard,Ē Brank said in a text message to the man, according to court documents. ďI want a new car, motorcycle and both hands full of cash.Ē

D.B.ís attorneys contacted the FBI two weeks later, and a sting operation was set up at a Starbucks in El Segundo, according to the affidavit.

An undercover agent gave Brank the title to the Audi R8 inside the coffee shop, but said the $1 million was stored in the trunk of his car, the affidavit said. Outside, agents arrested the porn star and found a loaded revolver in his car.

D.B.ís actual identity has prompted speculation outside the courtroom and has become a point of dispute as the case moves forward.

A U.S. District judge ordered prosecutors to disclose the victimís name in court last week, but the manís attorney objected, prompting further review.

The public defenders representing Brank argued that the public has a right to know D.B.ís name, noting that D.B. is alleged to have paid Brank for sex and to find him other sexual partners, according to a brief filed Tuesday.

D.B.ís attorneys, however, say revealing his identity would compromise his rights as a victim, and they are seeking an order that would exclude mention of D.B.ís name until a trial.

Federal prosecutors, according to a brief filed Tuesday, have sided with D.B.ís attorneys, noting that he would face ďthe very harm threatened by the defendant.Ē

Pending a judge's ruling, all parties are barred from mentioning his name on the record.

A gay porn star is accused of blackmailing an unidentified wealthy man out of $500,000 by threatening to broadcast the lurid details of his personal life, according to federal officials.

FBI agents arrested Teofil Brank -- better known by his stage name Jarec Wentworth -- on March 4 after investigators say he tried to exact the ownership of a condo and $1-million cash from the man, who is referenced in court documents as D.B.

In a March 20 indictment, Brank, 25, was charged with one felony count of extortion by threatening to injure someoneís reputation. If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison.

Brank is scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a bail review hearing. A judge previously denied bail, deeming him a flight risk, but Brankís attorneys appealed the decision.

According to a sworn affidavit, Brank began sending D.B. text messages on Feb. 16, demanding $500,000 cash and the manís Audi sports car.

The adult performer pledged to post photos and other details of the manís trysts through his Twitter account, according to the affidavit. Prosecutors say Brank published a damaging comment online about the unidentified man, then removed it.

ďIím just going to bite hard,Ē Brank said in a text message to the man, according to court documents. ďI want a new car, motorcycle and both hands full of cash.Ē

D.B.ís attorneys contacted the FBI two weeks later, and a sting operation was set up at a Starbucks in El Segundo, according to the affidavit.

An undercover agent gave Brank the title to the Audi R8 inside the coffee shop, but said the $1 million was stored in the trunk of his car, the affidavit said. Outside, agents arrested the porn star and found a loaded revolver in his car.

D.B.ís actual identity has prompted speculation outside the courtroom and has become a point of dispute as the case moves forward.

A U.S. District judge ordered prosecutors to disclose the victimís name in court last week, but the manís attorney objected, prompting further review.

The public defenders representing Brank argued that the public has a right to know D.B.ís name, noting that D.B. is alleged to have paid Brank for sex and to find him other sexual partners, according to a brief filed Tuesday.

D.B.ís attorneys, however, say revealing his identity would compromise his rights as a victim, and they are seeking an order that would exclude mention of D.B.ís name until a trial.

Federal prosecutors, according to a brief filed Tuesday, have sided with D.B.ís attorneys, noting that he would face ďthe very harm threatened by the defendant.Ē

Pending a judge's ruling, all parties are barred from mentioning his name on the record.